Detection of forest changes using ALOS PALSAR satellite images

A controlled experiment has been performed to quantify the ability to detect clear-cuts using ALOS PALSAR data. The experiment consisted of 8 old spruce dominated stands, each with a size of about 1.5 ha, located at a test site in southern Sweden. Four of the stands were clear-felled and the remaining stands were left untreated for reference. A time series of PALSAR images was acquired prior to, during, and after treatment, including 7 Fine Beam Single polarization (FBS, look angle 34.3 degrees, HH-polarization) SAR images. The results clearly show that the clear-felled stands could be separated from the reference stands. The drop in backscattering coefficient between the reference and the clear-felled stands was on average 2.1 dB. This implies that ALOS PALSAR data potentially can be used for large-scale mapping of changes in forest cover.